Published: 10:41 AM, Thu Aug 16, 2012
2012 Football Preview: Westover team capsule
Conference: Cape Fear Valley 3-A
Coach: Greg Bryant (first year)
2011 record: 2-9 overall, 1-5 conference
2012 schedule:
Aug. 17 - Terry Sanford
Aug. 24 - Cape Fear
Aug. 31 - at E.E. Smith
Sept. 7 - Pine Forest
Sept. 14 - at Southern Lee
Sept. 21 - Hoke County
Sept. 28 - Douglas Byrd
Oct. 5 - at Union Pines
Oct. 12 - Overhills
Oct. 19 - at Gray's Creek
Oct. 26 - Western Harnett
Alums currently playing in college: Mike Jones, Bethune- Cookman; Theo Livingston, N.C. Central; Kimani Jones, N.C. Central; Kenronte Walker, Missouri; Anthony Amos, Middle Tennessee State; Tyrone Johnson, Catawba; Darius Steward, Shaw
Key returning starters: Henry Howard, QB (all-conference); Shamal Ayton, FB-LB; Cherrod Williams, OL-DL (all-conference); Cerron Francisco, OL (all-conference); Johnte White, TE-OLB (all-conference); Dean Brown, OL-DL; Jon Reid, OT; Keatre Evans, WR-DB; JaMarcus Swinson, OL; Javier Archibald, DE; Carron McLaughlin, DB
Division I prospects: Cherrod Williams, Johnte White
Potential breakout player: QB Henry Howard will need to be versatile to make Bryant's spread offense work. "I don't know how much we're going to throw it, but we're going to spread it out and be more of a running team," Bryant said.
Key game: The season opener against Terry Sanford, which handed the Wolverines one of their three shutouts in 2011. A win, or even a close game, against the Bulldogs would be a huge morale boost for Westover.
Preseason conference prediction: "I've always said that you try to win five more games than you did last year. The main thing this year is to get guys recommitted to the program. And if we only win two more games than we did last year, so be it, as long as they are going to be totally committed." - Greg Bryant